During the episode, President Lee expressed his desire to introduce K-Food to the world, requesting a dish featuring the Korean ingredient 'siraegi' (dried radish greens).
Chef Jung Ji-sun presented a dish called 'Siraegi Tteoksang,' which included siraegi and rice flour dumplings, radish, and Korean beef. Competing against him, Chef Kim Poong created the 'Lee Jae-myung Pizza,' using ingredients like nurungji (scorched rice), lotus root chips, siraegi, and bracken. Kim Poong humorously noted, "This is not the famous Lee Jae-mo Pizza from Busan, but the Lee Jae-myung Pizza. I aim to captivate the President's taste with siraegi."
President Lee praised Jung Ji-sun's dish, saying, "It's better than just having rice cakes. The addition of siraegi makes it richer. Initially unfamiliar, the sweetness of dried persimmons and jujubes is subtly pleasant. It's tastier than bean-filled dumplings." First Lady Kim added, "I think it would sell well during the holidays," with a smile.
Upon tasting Kim Poong's creation, President Lee remarked, "Replacing pepperoni with lotus root chips is innovative. It should be developed as a unique product. The cooking process seemed off, but the taste is surprisingly good. It's not greasy, and the seasoning is just right." Kim Poong responded, "The combination of siraegi and bracken is excellent. It could be canned and exported overseas. As an industrial soldier, I'll board a container ship tomorrow," adding humor to the atmosphere.
The episode also revealed a personal story about the couple's arguments. Host Kim Sung-joo mentioned, "I heard you two continue your arguments even after eating." First Lady Kim explained, "If we don't eat on time during a fight, it leads to another argument about not having meals. So, we eat regular meals and sometimes prepare them for each other."
She continued, "When we argue, I've had a habit of writing letters since we were young. (My husband) writes long letters and quietly approaches me. They're mostly apologies," causing laughter. President Lee added, "It's always my fault," smiling.
Reported by Jung Se-yoon, TenAsia yoon@tenasia.co.kr